Science and Technology:
¶ “Atlantic Remains Busy As Sally Gets Stronger” • There were five named storms in the Atlantic on Monday before Rene dissapated. This is only the second time on record this has happened. Hurricane Sally strengthened Monday evening to a Category 2 hurricane as it makes its way towards a landfall late Tuesday or early Wednesday. [WLTX]
Messy weather (Credit: WLTX)
¶ “Reducing Emissions From Cement And Steel Production” • Combined, the cement and steel industries, both central to the construction industry, produce about 15% of the world’s CO₂ emissions. The opportunities to lower the amount of CO₂ they create are significant. Fortunately, leaders in both industries are finding new ways to do that. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Where Does The Heat Go?” • Reporting in the journal Earth System Science Data, the group of over 30 researchers from world scientific institutions tracked and quantified global heat storage from 1960 to 2018 to answer the question, “Where does the heat go?” The new study represents the most accurate, state-of-the-art heat inventory study to date. [CleanTechnica]
Please click on the image to enlarge it.
World:
¶ “Green Paradox: Green New Deal To Boost Kepco’s Role In Renewable Energy Market” • The ruling Democratic Party of Korea recently prepared a bill to allow Korea Power Corp to directly generate electricity with renewable energy sources as part of ways to foster President Moon Jae-in’s Green New Deal initiative. [The Korea Herald]
¶ “Lithuanian Crew Selects Ocean Winds For Offshore Bid” • Lithuanian energy company Ignitis Group selected Engie and EDPR joint venture Ocean Winds as a strategic partner to develop up to 700 MW of offshore wind farms off the coast of Lithuania. The partners plan to participate in the first auctions for offshore wind in Lithuania. [reNEWS]
Offshore wind construction (EDPR image)
¶ “Google To Create Easier Renewable Power Purchase Pathways” • Google, in a recent update on its climate action efforts, revealed that it aims to run all of its data centers and corporate campuses worldwide on entirely carbon-free power by 2030. It said it has brought its lifetime net carbon footprint to zero by using “high-quality” carbon offsets. [pv magazine International]
¶ “DNV GL To Lead UK Offshore Grid Project” • National Grid ESO has picked DNV GL to lead an offshore transmission project in the UK. The Offshore Coordination Project aims to “advise and shape the future national strategy” to develop the offshore grid in Great Britain. The UK has an installed capacity of over 10 GW of offshore windpower. [reNEWS]
Wind turbines (Nicholas Doherty | Unsplash)
¶ “Renewable Energy Surges In EU Power Mix On Trajectory To Reach 60% By 2030” • Renewable energy’s share of the power generation mix across the EU surged by almost 10 percentage points to 40% during the first half of 2020, and it could reach as much as 60% by the end of the decade, according to European utility federation Eurelectric. [Recharge]
¶ “China Ditches US Nuclear Technology In Favour Of Home-Grown Alternative” • China has switched from the American AP1000 nuclear technology, designed by Westinghouse Electric Company, to Hualong One, a domestically developed alternative. This comes as worries over geopolitical uncertainties and energy security increase. [South China Morning Post]
Chinese nuclear reactor (Photo: Xinhua)
US:
¶ “Trump Baselessly Questions Climate Science During California Wildfire Briefing” • President Trump asserted that climate change is not playing a role in the catastrophic wildfires overtaking forests across the west, contradicting an official briefing him who pleaded with him to listen to the science. He said the main problem is forest management. [CNN]
¶ “Renewables Sector Saw Gradual Job Growth In August, With Employment Still 14% Below Pre-Pandemic Levels” • The clean energy sector continues to feel the pain of the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on the economy, adding just 13,600 jobs in August. Overall losses since the pandemic’s start hover just under half a million at 490,341. [Morning Consult]
Work at a solar farm (Getty Images)
¶ “Climate Change Denier Hired For Top Position At NOAA” • David Legates, a University of Delaware professor of climatology who has rejected the scientific consensus that human activity is causing climate change, confirmed with NPR this weekend that he was hired as NOAA’s deputy assistant secretary of commerce for observation and prediction. [Yahoo News]
¶ “Groups Say Duke Energy’s 15-Year Plan Fails To Lower Costs, Address Climate Change” • Environmental and social justice groups say a new 15-year energy plan filed this month by Duke Energy doesn’t do enough to keep down costs for low-income customers or to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy. [WFAE]
Duke Energy natural gas plant (Duke Energy image)
¶ “Daimler To Pay $1.5 Billion Over Emissions Cheat Claims In US” • German carmaker Daimler, which owns Mercedes-Benz, has agreed to pay $1.5 billion (£1.2 billion) to resolve the US government’s claims that it designed its diesel vehicles to cheat air pollution tests. US officials said they hoped the fine would deter future misbehaviour. [BBC]
¶ “Report: 47 US States Could Meet 100% Of Electricity Needs Using In-State Renewables” • A report from the ILSR, “Energy Self-Reliant States 2020: The Third Edition,” has mapped out the state-by-state renewable generation potential of rooftop solar, onshore and offshore wind, conventional geothermal, and small hydro. [CleanTechnica]
Have a magnificently happy day.
geoharvey 